Oct 1, 2018

Churchill Challenges Public Opinion

Winston Churchill, interpreted by
Gary Oldman in the film “Darkest Hour”

The 2017 film “Darkest Hour” examines
testing moments in the life of Winston Churchill and a decisive page in the evolution
of mankind. [1]

Contrasting
with its title, this is one of the most brilliant movies made about the Second
World War. It contains important reflections on the role of public opinion in
History, and the duty of political leaders and heads of state.

A true work of
art, the film takes the United Kingdom as an example to show the deadly duel
between truth and falsity in human heart and public life, a struggle very much
alive in the 21st century, when “public opinion” is easily fabricated in most
countries by propaganda campaigns acting on conscious and subconscious levels
of the mind.

The challenge of
preserving good sense and discernment while avoiding collective illusions is
not unknown to theosophists, for a Master of the Wisdom says in “The Mahatma
Letters”:

“…In the ideas
of the West, everything is brought down to appearances
even in religion.”

And the
teacher proceeds:

“A confessor
does not inquire of his penitent whether he felt
anger, but whether he has shown anger
to anyone. ‘Thou shalt in lying, stealing, killing, etc. avoid being detected’ - seems to be the chief commandment of the
Lord gods of civilization - Society and Public opinion.” [2]

Many a
despicable project is presented as altruistic with the help of propaganda
techniques. Most noble efforts are easy to attack before the “public opinion”.Therefore citizens of good will must be
indifferent to applause and criticism.The practical consequences are unavoidable. In Mahatma Letters we read that
the Initiates in wisdom are “utterly devoid of that sense of the ridiculous
which prompts the Western mind to caricature the best, the noblest aspirations
of mankind.” A Yogi, says a Master, can’t feel “offended or flattered by the
world’s opinion”. [3]

Another master
of the Eastern wisdom recommended to a lay disciple:

“Fear not, immortal man, scorn the evil whispers of
the double-visaged Janus called public opinion.”[4]

According to
the Initiates, “the tribunal of Public opinion” has scarce legitimacy and is
the “most flippantly cruel, prejudiced and unjust of all tribunals.” [5]

In the
beginning of the second world war, Winston Churchill challenged such a
tribunal, as he insisted in the “strange idea” that people of good will should
actually defend the United Kingdom and Western civilization against Nazi
aggression.

True sages and statesmen unmask collective
ignorance.

In 1939-1940,
appeasers dominated the public opinion. Hitler seemed invincible. Making peace
with Nazi Government in Berlin was - from the point of view of mental laziness
and moral defeat - the only thing to do. Winston Churchill was therefore seen
as a madman for daring to resist, and his ideas were labelled as absurd at best.

“Darkest Hour”
is highly recommended for theosophists and friends of mankind who seek for
truth and adopt as their own the probationary task of challenging false consensus.

The story of
the film shows how honesty and moral courage defeat political correctness. It demonstrates
the importance of thinking by oneself, and teaches one or two lessons in
advanced esoteric philosophy. It sets an example to follow in our century, in philosophical
and theosophical associations as in every department of life.

An initial
version of the above article was published at “The Aquarian Theosophist”,June
2018,pp. 6-7. It had no indication
as to the name of the author. Original title: “Churchill and the Public
Opinion”.

“Churchill Challenges Public Opinion” was published in our associated websites as an
independent article on the 1st of October, 2018.